In brave purfuit of honourable deed,
There is I know not what great difference
Betweene the vulgar and the noble feed,
Which unto things of valorous pretence
Seemes to be borne by native influence,
As feates of armes, and love to entertain;
But chiefly skill to ride fecmes a science
Proper to gentle blood: fome others faine

IV.

And him behind a wicked hag did stalke,
In ragged robes and filthy disaray,
Her other leg was lame, thar fhe no'te walke,
But on a staffe her feeble fteps did ftay:
Her lockes, that loathly were and hoarie gray,
Grew all afore, and loofly hong unrold;
But all behind was bald, and worne away,
That none thereof could ever taken hold;

And did he wift not what in his avengement,

"Feare gave her winges, and rage enforst my "flight:

Through woods and plaines fo long I did her chace,.

"Till this mad man (whom your victorious might "Hath now faft bound) me met in middle space: "As I her, fo he me pourfewd apace, "And shortly overtooke: I breathing yre, "Sore chauffed at my ftay in fuch a cace, "And with my heat kindled his cruell fyre, "Which kindled once, his mother did more rage "inspyre.

When he in prefence came, to Guyon first He boldly ipake; " Sir Knight, if knight thou bee, "Abandon this foreftalled place at erst, "For fears of further harme, I counfell thee, "Or bide the chaunce at thine own iopardee." The knight at his great boldneffe wondered; And though he fcorn'd his ydle vanitee, Yet mildly him to purpose answered, For not to grow of nought he it coniectured.

XL.

"Varlet! this place moft dew to me I deeme, "Yielded by him that held it forcibly; "But whence field come that harme, which thou " doft seeme

"To threat to him that mindes his chaunce "t'abye?"

"Perdy," fay'd he, "here comes, and is hard by "A knight of wondrous powre and great assay, "That never yet encountred enemy "But did him deadly daunt, or fowle difmay; "Ne thou for better hope, if thou his presence « ftay,”

"To feeke Occasion, whereso she bee;

"For he is all difpofd to bloody fight,

"And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltee :

"That knights and knighthood doest with shame upbray, [might, "And fhewft th' enfample of thy childishe "With filly weake old women thus to fight: "Great glory and gay fpoile fure haft thou gott,

XLVI.

And ftoutly prov'd thy puiffaunce here in fight;
"That fhall Pyrochles well requite, I wott,
" And with thy bloud abolish fo reprochfull blott.",
With that one of his thrillant darts he threw,
Headed with yre and vengeable defpight;
The quivering fteele his aymed end well knew,
And to his breft itfelfe intended right;
But he was wary, and ere it empight

In the meant marke, advaunst his shield atween;
On which it feizing, no way enter might,
But backe rebownding left the forckhead keene;

" dec.".

fcene.

Giiij